[78-L] An American Decca query

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RAY KILCOYNE" <kil at roadrunner.com>
> This is a quote from the Wikipedia article on Stuart Hamblen, "He was the 
> first artist signed by MCA Records in 1934."
> Obviously wrong since there was no MCA at that time, but is there any 
> truth at all here?  Was he the first or near first to be signed to Decca?
>
The US Decca label was a project of Jack Kapp, who had been an "a&r
man" for Brunswick (until when? Can't recall?!). Kapp brought a number
of the Brunswick artists he knew personally (Lombardo, Mills Brothers
and many others!) to his new operation...their cheaper 35-cent records
sold quite well, since their price was more suitable to "Great Depression 
I!"

Question now is, will there be a similar bargain-priced CD label in "Great
Depression--the Sequel"...?!

I'd need the new C&W discography to compare Hamblen's recording
dates with other pop-music artists...?!

...stevenc